Tuesday, August 24, 2010
School's in — and so are the germs
With school back in session soon, children will be bringing home more than their homework – they will be carrying germs as well.
With students in close quarters, the odds of spreading germs are high. Droplets from sneezing or coughing can spread germs in a 3-foot radius.
To prevent the spread of colds and flu, parents should encourage children to use hand hygiene by covering their nose and mouth with the crook of their arm while coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands if needed.
There are other ways to combat the spread of colds and flu as well. Parents may want to provide a hand sanitizer for children to keep with them to use after coughing or blowing their nose, or touching surfaces at school.
But even the best hygiene practices might not stop your children from getting sick. To prevent the spread of illness, parents should keep their kids home if they have a fever, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.
Due to safety concerns with inappropriate dosing with over-the-counter cold medicines, parents should speak to their pediatricians before administering cold medicine. Rest and fluids are great for colds and flu, and fever reducers may be used.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending the flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older this year. The 2010-11 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N1 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. Most people will only need one shot this year, except for children who may not have been vaccinated last year.
Most adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body.
Flu vaccinations will be available at the Backus health centers and pediatricians’ offices, usually starting in October. Parents should check with their pediatrician to make sure all their children’s vaccinations are up to date.
It’s hard to tell how severe the flu season will be this year, and some of it is out of our control. But taking the necessary precautions can limit the chances of a severe outbreak.
Pam Harazim is a nurse epidemiologist at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Harazim or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
With students in close quarters, the odds of spreading germs are high. Droplets from sneezing or coughing can spread germs in a 3-foot radius.
To prevent the spread of colds and flu, parents should encourage children to use hand hygiene by covering their nose and mouth with the crook of their arm while coughing or sneezing, and to wash their hands if needed.
There are other ways to combat the spread of colds and flu as well. Parents may want to provide a hand sanitizer for children to keep with them to use after coughing or blowing their nose, or touching surfaces at school.
But even the best hygiene practices might not stop your children from getting sick. To prevent the spread of illness, parents should keep their kids home if they have a fever, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.
Due to safety concerns with inappropriate dosing with over-the-counter cold medicines, parents should speak to their pediatricians before administering cold medicine. Rest and fluids are great for colds and flu, and fever reducers may be used.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending the flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older this year. The 2010-11 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N1 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. Most people will only need one shot this year, except for children who may not have been vaccinated last year.
Most adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body.
Flu vaccinations will be available at the Backus health centers and pediatricians’ offices, usually starting in October. Parents should check with their pediatrician to make sure all their children’s vaccinations are up to date.
It’s hard to tell how severe the flu season will be this year, and some of it is out of our control. But taking the necessary precautions can limit the chances of a severe outbreak.
Pam Harazim is a nurse epidemiologist at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice from your personal physician. If you want to comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs or e-mail Ms. Harazim or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:01 AM 
